Magnetic relay



April 23, 1957 w. F. ROESEN MAGNETIC RELAY Filed Dec. 12, 1955 5 n Y m Wm m M MN F M u W M United States Patent MAGNETIC RELAY William F. Roesen, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber- Colman Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application December 12, 1955, Serial No. 552,309

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates to a relay having a pivoted armature and a plurality of switches actuated thereby and carried by elongated resilient arms.

The general object is to provide a magnetic relay of the above character which, as compared to prior relays, is

simpler in construction, more reliable in operation, and

which is easier to install and maintain because of the ready visibility and accessibility of all of the switch contacts, the contact arms, and the conductor terminals associated therewith.

A more detailed object is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of the relay frame and the armature to permit the contact arms to be disposed in readily accessible positions at opposite sides of the magnet and actuated by a member lying along a third side of the magnet.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the frame plate to facilitate mounting of the relay, adjustment of the armature gap, and the stress of the armature spring.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple switch magnetic relay embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the relay parts.

Fig. 3 is a verticalcentral section of the relay and its support.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the principal parts of the relay.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the frame plate.

Generally stated, the improved relay comprises one or more banks 9 of resilient switch arms 10 and 11 disposed in readily accessible positions outwardly from opposite sides of a magnet 12 and actuated by an insulating plate 13 which extends along a third side of the magnet and is carried by the magnet armature 14. All of these parts are supported by a frame plate 15 stamped from a flat sheet of magnetic metal and preferably having a generally Y shape with one leg 16 projecting from the closed end of a fork formed by two flat legs 17. Right-angular lugs 18 bent from the ends of the legs 17 may be secured to a suitable support 19 to mount the frame in upright position.

The magnet comprises a coil surrounding and fixed to a core in the form of a bar 20 which abuts at one end against the upper leg of the frame plate and is riveted or otherwise rigidly attached as indicated at 21 to the frame leg 16 intermediate the ends of the latter. The core thus projects perpendicularly from the frame for cooperation of its free end with the armature 14. The latter comprises a flat sheet of iron paralleling the frame plate and fulcrumed near its lower end on the free end of an arm 22 which underlies the magnet and extends alongside the latter from the center of the Y. Preferably, the arm is 'ice flat and integral with the frame plate being, in this instance, struck out of the end portion of the frame plate blank and bent inwardly from the center of the plate.

The armature hinge is formed by notching the free end of the arm 22 to form ears 24 which are received in squared notches 24 punched in opposite edges of the armature. Movement of the armature toward the free end of the magnet core is limited by a button 25 of nonmagnetic material.

The armature is biased away from the core end by a contractile spring 26 disposed below the arm 22 and stretched between the lower end of the armature plate and a point of anchorage on the frame plate. This point may be integral with the frame plate and formed by a lug 27 struck out of the plate as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. As an alternative the anchor may bethe end of a flat bu 28 (Fig. 5) riveted or spot welded at 29 against the outer face of the frame plate, the bar end projecting clownwardly between the frame legs 17.

Movement of the armature away from the core end is limited through the provision of a stop 30 on the end of the leg 16 of the frame formed by an extension 31 of the frame (Figs. 1 and 2) or by the extended end of the bar 28. The stop is engageable with an abutment 32 comprising the outer edge of a hole 33 punched in the free end of the plate 13 of insulation. The other end portion of this plate is riveted to a flange bent from the upper end of the armature. Being at the top of the final assembly, the stop 30 is readily accessible for bending relative to the frame to vary the stop position and thereby adjust the gap between the magnet and the armature in the released position of the latter. In a similar way, the tension of the spring 26 may be adjusted by bending the lug 27 which forms the spring anchor.

The :switch arms 10 and 11 comprise fiat strips of resilient metal paralleling each other and the frame plate 12 and are supported intermediate their ends for flexing of their free upper ends toward and away from the frame plate. This is accomplished by clamping the strips between adjacent spacers 36 of insulation stacked together with the strips and apertured to receive two screws 37. The latter extend through matching holes vertically spaced along one leg 17 of the frame plate and thread into plates 38 at the opposite end of the stack. By tightening of the screws, the spacers and the contact strips areclamped together to form a rigid stack disposed below the level of the magnet and projecting from the back of the frame plate. The lower end portions 39 of the strips project below the support 19 and are well spaced to afford convenient access for soldering or otherwise attaching conductors thereto.

The other ends of the strips project upwardly from the insulating mounting and carry contacts 40 arranged in opposed pairs which cooperate to form a switch disposed at about the level of the magnet core. The contacts may be arranged and the strips bent so as to provide for normal opening or closing as desired of the switches. With the strips arranged in banks on opposite sides of the magnet and the contacts secured near the upper ends of the strips, convenient access to the strips is afiorded for adjustment of the contact spacing both at the time of initial manufacture and also for inspection or cleaning of the switches after installation of the relay.

The strip 11 of each switch is elongated so as to project upwardly beyond the magnet for actuation by the insulating plate 13 in the back and forth movement of the armature. Notches 42 are cut in opposite side edges of the plate 13 to receive the inner edge portions of the strips 11, the spacing of the notches corresponding to the desired arrangement of the switches. By projecting the plate 13 only partially across the strips 11 the ready visibihty of the switches from above is preserved as is the cessibility of the switch contacts for cleaning or adjustment.

magnet d isposed between talcrumed intermediate ltS ends on the free d arm for su 1g of. one end of the plate i away from the f ce end said core, a condisposed between said stacks of spacers :tcherl bcuveen said frame and armature plates, pl of insulation paralleling said arm and lying alongside said magnet and having outwardly open inn uotr ,long opposite side edges, one end of the secured to the free end of said armature and intcrengageable means on the other end of no t insulating p ate and the end of said f ame plate coacting to it t e movement of the armature away from said core, certain of said contact strips lying in said notches i actuation of the associated switches in response to movements of said armature plate.

2. A relay having, in combination, a generally flat frame plate t magnetic ma rial and shape with the ally spaced apart, a magnet projecting from and rigidly secured at one end to the third leg of said "1 intermediate the ends thereof, two stacizs of insulating spacers clamped against said lorl; legs and projecting therefrom parallel to said magnet, two banks of contact arms disposed on opposite sides of said magnet and each comprising a plurality of clcn ated fiat strips paralleling said plate and clamped interi cdiate their ends between adjacent ones of said spac rs, said strips carrying contacts cooperating to form switnes, certain of said strips projecting across and beyond let, a list arm integral with said plate and proie l the center ol? the Y along a third side of s.v it'lagnet and between said banks of contact arms, an armature plate oaralleling said frame plate and fulcruined intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm for swinging of one end of the plate toward and away from t id core end, a contractile spring stretched between said frame plate and the other end of the armalure plate, a rigid plate of insulation paralleling said arm and lying along the fourth side of said magnet and towing notches along opposite side edges receiving "ojecting contact strips, one end of the plate being or to the tree end of said armature plate, and interble means on the free end of said insulating plate l third of said frame plate coacting to limit the movement of the armature away from the end of said core.

3. A relay having, in combination, a generally flat 'aine plate of magnetic material bent laterally at one a to firovide mounting lugs, a magnet having a core meeting lrora and rigidly secured at one end to said frame plate intermediate the ends thereof, two stacks of insulating spacers clamped together against said plate and projecting therefrom on the side opposite said lugs, banks oi" elongated llat contact'strips disposed on op- 41 posite sides of said magnet and clamped intermediate their ends between adjacent ones of said spacers for flexing of the strips toward and way from the frame plate, the end portions of said strips adjacent said magnet carrying contacts cooperating to form switches and certain oi the strips being elongated and projecting beyond the gnct, a hat arm rigid with said plate and projecting therefrom alongside said magnet, an armature plate fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm For swii'iging of one end of the plate toward and away from the free end of said core, a spring stretched between said frame and armature plates, a rigid plate 0'. insulz-tlion paralleling and lying alongside said magnet and having notches along opposite side edges receiving fluid elongated strips, one end of the plate being secured to the free end of said armature plate, a stop on the end of said frame plate opposite said lugs, and an abutment on said insulating plate engageable with said stop to limit the movement of said armature away from said core.

4. A relay having, in combination, a generally flat frame pie of magnetic material, a magnet having a core projecting from and rigidly secured at one end to said frame plate intermediate the ends thereof, two stacks of insulating spacers clamped together against one end of said plate and projecting therefrom parallel to said magnet core, banks of elongated flat contact strips disposed on opposite sides of said magnet and clamped intermediate their ends between adjacent ones of said spacers for flexing; of the strips toward and away from the frame plate, the end portions of said strips adjacent said magnet carrying contacts cooperating to form switches and certain of the strips being elongated and projecting beyond the magnet, a flat arm rigid with said plate and projecting therefrom alongside said magnet, an armature plate fulcrumcd intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm for swinging of one end of the plate toward and away from the free end of said core, a spring acting against said frame and armature plates, a rigid plate of insulation paralleling and lying alongside saidrnagnet and hving notches along opposite side edges receiving said elongated strips, one end of the plate being secured to the free end of said armature plate, a stop on said frame plate, and an abutment on said insulating plate engageable with said stop to limit the movement of said armature away from said core.

5. A relay having, in combination, a generally fiat frame plate of magnetic material, a magnet having a core projecting from and rigidly secured at one end to said frame plate intermediate the ends thereof, two stacks of insulating spacers clamped together against one end of said plate and projecting therefrom parallel to said magnet core, a bank of elongated fiat contact strips disposed on one side of said magnet and clamped intermediate their ends between adjacent ones of said spacers for flexing of the strips toward and away from the frame plate, the end portions of said strips adjacent said magnet carrying contacts cooperating to form switches and certain of the strips being elongated and projecting beyond the magnet, an arm rigid with said plate and projecting therefrom alongside said magnet, an armature plate fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm for swinging of one end of the plate toward and away from the free end of said core, a spring acting against said frame and armature plates, a rigid plate of insulation lying alongside said magnet and having notches along one side edge receiving said elongated strips, means securing said plate to the free end of said armature plate, a stop on the end of said frame plate bendable toward and from the plane of the plate, and an abutment on said insulating plate engagcable with said stop to limit the movement of said armature away from said core.

6. A relay having, in combination, a generally flat frame plate of magnetic material,- a magnet having a core projecting from andrigidly secured at one end to said frame plate intermediate the ends thereof, two stacks of insulating spacers clamped together against one end of said plate and projecting therefrom parallel to the magnet core, a bank of elongated flat contact strips disposed on one side of said magnet and clamped intermediate their ends betweeen adjacent ones of said spacers for flexing of the strips toward and away from the frame plate, the end portions of said strips adjacent said magnet carrying contacts cooperating to form switches and certain of the strips being elongated and projecting beyond the magnet, an aim rigid with said plate and projecting therefrom alongside said magnet, an armature plate fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm for swinging of one end of the plate toward and away from the free end of said core, a spring acting against said frame and armature plates, a rigid plate of insulation lying alongside said magnet and having outwardly opening notches along one side edge receiving said elongated strips and extending only partially across the width of the strips, one end of the plate being secured to the free end of said armature plate, a stop on the end of said frame plate, and an abutment on said insulating plate engageable with said stop to limit the movement of said armature away from said core.

7. A relay having, in combination, a generally fiat frame plate of magnetic material and Y shape with the ends of the fork legs laterally spaced apart, a magnet having a core projecting from and rigidly secured at one end to the third leg of said Y intermediate the ends thereof, a stack of insulating spacers clamped against one of said fork legs and projecting therefrom parallel to said magnet, a bank of elongated fiat contact strips clamped intermediate their ends between adjacent ones of said spacers and carrying contacts cooperating to form switches, certain of said strips projecting across and beyond one side of said magnet, a magnetic arm projecting from the center of the Y along another side of said magnet between said banks of contact arms, an armature plate paralleling said frame plate and fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the free end of said arm for swinging of one end of the plate toward and away from said core end, a lug rigid with said frame plate and projecting along the latter into the fork of said Y, a contractile spring stretched between said lug and the other end of the armature plate, said lug being bendable relative to said plate to vary the tension of said spring, a rigid plate of insulation paralleling said arm and lying along the fourth side of said magnet and having notches along opposite side edges receiving said projecting contact strips, one end of the plate being secured to the free end of said armature plate, :and interengageable means on the free end of said insulating plate and said third leg of said frame plate coacting to limit the movement of the armature away from the end of said core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,338 Knos Apr. 11, 1939 2,398,657 McMaster et :al. Apr. 16, 1946 2,422,764 Wood June 24, 1947 2,755,356 Jucker July 17, 1956 

